One of those stories that makes you reevaluate every other book you’ve given 5 stars. I can’t remember the last time I finished a book in one day (2 sittings). Every time I went to put it down I picked it up again a second later. Beautifully and hauntingly written, this book is tender, vicious, devastating, and hopeful all at once, and the gamut of emotions those last 15 pages ran me through are to be written into legend. It tackles imperialism, war, service, duty, love, and legend, and what it means when history is warped. Now, I am caught in the emotions of Una and Owen (I cried) but when I am more coherent, this deserves a reread to intuit more of its messages. All I can say, I suppose, is that this is a truly remarkable work, and one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given.

A couple tidbits I was thinking of as I read this book:

“In A Week” and “Francesca” by Hozier

that one quote from /An Orestia/ Pylades: It’ll take care of you. Orestes: It’s rotten work Pylades: Not to me. Not if it’s you.